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I'm inclined to suggest that this is an oxymoron but I guess they're talking about supermarket own brand stuff and really really bad cheap rubbish. Such alcohol IS a problem. But I'm not sure I like the implication that alcohol is cheap in this country when, well, I'm not really convinced it is.

Still, I wonder what Tesco is thinking of doing to change things. Will we end up with Sainsbury's being the choice of the discerning drunk?

the anti social behaviour and teens having stomachs pumped isn't ever caused by value lager, or even strong cheap cider. It's 10 quid bottles of vodka, alcopops and bottles of lager, which are twice the price here (compared to other european countries).

Are we trying to stop kids getting alcohol? In which case, I'd venture that argument that the supermarkets aren't the problem, certain local stores are. Even I still get ID'd buying alcohol in supermarkets.

If it's nothing to do with kids, then I'm against the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets, for purely selfish reasons.

i've been buying alcohol for 10 years or so, but i still get ID'd when i go to supermarkets. sainsburys are so strict that they ID whoever is with me these days too.

as for cheap offers on drinks, it won't really rub off on the kids who can get money any way they want, in fact they re probably mroe likely to go mugging other kids if it costs more. the people it will have the bigger effect on are the ones who are sat at home on the dole with their value scotch, has no one thought of what they will do?

Tesco backs cheap alcohol limits
Tesco says action will have to come from the government

Supermarket giant Tesco says it is willing to work with the government on possible legislation that would limit its ability to sell cut-price alcohol.

The British Medical Association, which says cut-price offers fuel binge drinking, has said it wants tougher restrictions on how alcohol is sold.

Tesco says ministers must take the lead because competition laws stop retailers from artificially raising prices.

The UK's biggest retailer says it would be "commercial suicide" to act alone.

'Active role'

And it said it was too simplistic to blame price alone for binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems.
Supermarkets are not allowed to act together to put up prices
Lucy Neville-Rolfe
Tesco

Call over cheap alcohol offers

However, the supermarket giant said it was prepared to take an active role in discussions about possible legislation on pricing and promotions.

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco's executive director for corporate and legal affairs, said action would have to come from the government.

She said: "We can't put up our prices because people will simply shop elsewhere - it could be commercial suicide - and we can't act together to put up prices because that would be against competition law.

"Supermarkets are not allowed to act together to put up prices because that would be bad for the consumer."

'Binge-drinking godfather'

A report from the BMA is expected to call for government policies to reduce drinking, including reviewing both taxes and 24-hour pub opening.

The drinks industry has already begun lobbying ahead of next month's Budget for a freeze in alcohol duty.

In England, the Department of Health is waiting for the results of an independent review into whether cut-price drinks offers have a direct effect on people's health.

Last December, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy was branded the "godfather of British binge drinking" by the chairman of the all-party Parliamentary beer group.

Labour MP John Grogan used a Commons debate to push for action against supermarkets selling alcohol below cost price.

The Scottish Government has already said it plans to ban "irresponsible" discounts on alcohol.

In December, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "It's not right that we still have three for two, or buy 3 bottles for £10 deals in our off-sales and supermarkets encouraging people to buy and drink more than they had intended."

they know by 13-14 that getting boozed is what they'll end up doing anyway, so they start early. i don't really see a problem...

however, they really should do other stuff than intimidate and threaten people, it's just a waste of being pissed. have a dance or something, play air guitar to rock classics blaring out from LaGreg's Corsa. idiots.

to score some positive PR for free by saying absolutely nothing - reading that story seems to suggest that they're saying nothing more than, "we'll probably support the government if it finds a solution to binge drinking, provided it doesn't harm us commercially". Given 1 pound in every 8 goes to Tesco, they've clearly got some clever people working for them - couldn't they show a little initiative?

the spokeswoman on the news was all (paraphrasing)
"we'd totally love to help out because we are such a massively socially responsible company (fingers crossed behind her back) but we simply can't because of legislation"

in how drunkeness affects people. Again, massive generalisations....., but there are many european countries where alcohol consumption on a typical night out is the same as in britain, it's just that it doesn't seem to lead to as much fighting and disorderlyness. They just get wrecked, have a bit of fun, maybe do something silly with a boy or girl then go home.

Maybe the alcohol they drink is a factor? i.e. less chemicals in beer, better quality spirits?

would be protesting on the streets if their pints were doubled in price.

Plus on the news they were saying you could get a bottle of White Ace or some such shit for the same price as a bottle of lemonade. NOT TRUE. You'd be hard pushed to get a bottle of lemonade for £2.15. Therefore, White Ace = actually quite pricey.